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Video via Nasa

February 24th, 2011 a dexterous humanoid robot, Robonaut 2, was launched into space to be the first of its kind in space and the first United States robot to make its way to the international space station. NASA and General Motors have been working together to create a more human like robot that can simulate and execute human motions and actions. Succeeding in creating such a robot will allow it to perform current human tasks, potentially the dangerous ones or repetitive tasks while also allowing it to use current tools and technologies used by humans.

Currently, tests are being performed on the robot in order to calibrate it before it is put to use in carrying out missions. Calibrating it involves comparing the motions of the hardware in the 1G environment on Earth, and taking it to the 0G space environment. The first tests on the robot included booting it up and making sure all the circuitry and software made it to the space station in working condition. Just recently, they began testing the movement of the joints and hands. Ultimately, the robot is controlled by a set of software parameters to keep it safe. However, its actions and movements can be controlled from a location on Earth or the space station itself.

Robonaut 2 was built and equipped with a wide range of advantages over the former Robonaut 1. It is capable of carrying out tasks four times faster than the original. Its systems include built in infrared sensors, a high resolution camera, and has an advanced sensing system. Additionally, its movement technologies include extensive neck travel, ultra-high speed joint controllers, enhanced finger and thumb movements, and series elastic joint technology.

Robonaut 2 has an identical twin on the ground that will be used to simulate missions and tasks. It will be placed in a replica environment with panels and systems that simulate that of the space station itself. After the simulation is complete, the program can be then sent to the orbiting Robonaut for execution. Future plans for the robot include creating legs for it to navigate around the space station or possibly wheels and a rover base so it can travel across terrain on a different planet.

See more robots in the element14 Robotics Group.

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Moore's Law states that the number of transistors that can be placed inexpensively into an integrated circuit will double every two years or become half their original size. In reality, it turns out that the doubling/shrinking happens every 18 months. Based on prediction, the law will hold true until somewhere between 2015 and 2020. At which point, a single transistor will be the size of one atom.

Can single atom transistors exist? The answer is shocking, yes they can and already exist.

3D model constructed by a scanning tunnelling microscope of the single atom Phosphorus transistor (via UNSW)

Researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, have precisely placed a single phosphorus atom between atomic-scale electrodes and control gates. UNSW Professor Michelle Simmons, leader of the project at the ARC Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, explained, "...this device is perfect... This is the first time anyone has shown control of a single atom in a substrate with this level of precise accuracy. Our group has proved that it is really possible to position one phosphorus atom in a silicon environment - exactly as we need it - with near-atomic precision, and at the same time register gates."

Inside a high-vacuum chamber, the team used a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) to see/manipulate the atom on the crystalline substrate. A lithographic process was used to pattern the phosphorus atom into a usable transistor. A non-reactive layer of hydrogen was applied to the atomic circuit. The STM then removed selected hydrogen atoms, etching the surface.  A chemical reaction placed the phosphorus atoms in the center. Then everything is encapsulated in silicon. Connections through the silicon allow for control on the individual atoms. The results were theoretical agreement with what a single phosphorus atom transistor could do.

Although the team stated that they beat Moore's Law, they now have to manufacture inexpensive devices using the technology to solidify an actual law-break. They have only 3 years to do it. I am hoping they do so. Keep in mind, controlling individual atom is at the core of quantum computing, and this might just bring about the technological singularity much faster. (When innovation can happen in an instant, every instant.)

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Quantum Dot concept image (via the Optical Society Journal "Remote switching of cellular activity and cell signaling using light in conjunction with quantum dots"

Lih Lin and her research team at the University of Washington have been working with Quantum Dot based stimulation of cells within the brain with surprising results. Quantum Dots (QD) are small crystal shaped particles only a few nanometers wide that behave similarly to semiconductors. They are readily excited by light. When exposed to a light source, the QDs become negatively charged. The small size and composition give them extraordinary fluorescent optical properties, and are easily adjusted by changing the size or physical composition.

Lih Lin explained where the QDs are used, "Many brain disorders are caused by imbalanced neural activity... Manipulation of specific neurons could permit the restoration of normal activity levels."

The teams succeeded in creating action potentials within the neurons by exciting quantum dots nearby. The stimulation of the QD created a negative charged surrounding it and opened up the ion channels in the neurons. The ion channels are vital to stimulating the brain cells by allowing positive charges to flow into the cell and create an action potential. Additionally, the action potential in neurons is what sends messages to other neurons or nerve cells within the body allowing a form of communication to occur. The goal is to use quantum dots to control the abnormal signal firing within the brain cause by Parkinson's, for example.

QDs can be used to treat a wide variety of brain disorders from dementia to depression. Furthermore, they may be able to treat problems within the eye and possibly blindness. The only drawback right now is creating a way to shine a light on the quantum dots while they are in the brain.

The first use of QDs will likely happen in the eye, where light is constantly absorbed. However, QDs could be delivered to the brain through the veins where they could help balance out the neural activity. Quantum Dots have a bright future in the medical field treating disorders and can possibly do so without any dangerous or unwanted side effects that come along with current brain disorder treatments.

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Soldier sets up UAV communication system in Afganistan

Big bandwidth, 4G, wireless networks are popping up everywhere these days; it is almost hard to find an area that does not have a fast connection. That is not the case for our men and women fighting on foreign battlefields like Afghanistan. Wireless networks out there are hard to come by even at 3G speeds. Wars are won with information. Having soldiers connected is paramount.

Slow data speeds will soon be a problem of the past though as DARPA’s (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) STO (Strategic Technology Office) looks to bring 4G level connections to even the most remote of battlefields. To do this, DARPA plans on using their Mobile Hotspots program that uses a millimeter-wave communications platform (wavelength of 10 to 1mm.) This system will be implemented in air vehicles as well as ground and will be able to give the war-fighter the speed of a typical 4G fixed tower, which is about a gigabit per second, without the infrastructure (kind of hard to hide a cell-tower in a war zone). The Mobile Hotspots program will also utilize DARPA’s ‘Fixed Wireless at a Distance program' which is essentially a high-performance cell tower that’s placed in a protected area like a forward operating base (FOB). This work is being looked at to boost UAV transmission power in hopes to extend the range.

DARPA Program manager Dick Ridgway explained how they will get up and running, "Mobile Hotspots will require the development of steerable antennas, efficient millimeter-wave power amplifiers, and dynamic networking to establish and maintain the mobile data backhaul network. We anticipate using commercial radio protocols, such as WiFi, WiMax or LTE [Long Term Evolution], as a cost-effective demonstration of the high-capacity backbone.  However, the millimeter-wave mobile backbone developed during this program will be compatible with other military radios and protocols.”

"The principle of strategy is having one thing, to know ten thousand things." - Miyamoto Musashi (Book of Five Rings)

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